The Jamaica National Bobsleigh Team represents Jamaica in international bobsledding competitions. The men’s team debuted in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games four-man bobsled in Calgary, Alberta.
The debut team, consisting of Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Michael White, Freddy Powell, and last-minute replacement Chris Stokes, qualified at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta. The coach was Howard Siler, an Olympic bobsledder for the United States in 1972 and 1980.
Their “underdog” status as an unlikely competitor in a cold-weather sport, represented by a nation with a tropical environment, quickly gained them popularity at the Games. They had little experience in the sport, having to appeal to other teams for basic equipment in order to compete; sporting camaraderie across national boundaries followed. In the final run, they lost control of the sled, crashed, and never officially finished.
Dudley Stokes and Michael White entered the two-man bobsled event, finishing 30th out of 41 teams. Jamaica returned to the Winter Olympics in the two-man bobsled in 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2014.
Inspired by the famous Jamaican bobsled Olympic team, there is now a bobsled ride at Mystic Mountain Jamaica near Dunn’s River Falls.
References:
- Atkin, Nick. 2014. “Rewind To 1988: The real Cool Runnings.” ESPN.
- Marie, Le. Nichole. 2014. “Jamaican bobsleigh team are back in the running for Winter Olympics glory.” Metro.
- Todor, Krastev. 2012. “Bobsleigh Fours XVI Winter Olympic Games 1994 Albertville (FRA) – 15,16.02.” Todor66.com.
Video:
- “Jamaican Bobsleigh Team Debut At Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics,” Crime Beat TV – 16:9, YouTube video, 2:42, June 6, 2012.